Hitching-post.



1 Patented Dec. 9, 913. 2.

A. S. HILL. HlTCHING PDST.

(Application filed June 26, 1902.]

(No Model.)

file-finis & H0114: o

UNrrEn TA'IESX HATENT FFIGE.

ALEXANDER S. HILL, OF BOVINE, SOUTH DAKOTA.

HlTCHlNG-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 715,381, dated December 9, 1902.

Application filed June 26, 1902.

.To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER S. HILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at B0- vine, in the county of Pratt and State of South Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in I-litching-Posts; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has relation to improvements in hitching-posts of the type employing cam locking-dogs, and has for its object to provide a post of this character which is simple of construction, comparatively inexpensive of production, and of attractive appearance, and, further, to provide such a post which is so constructedas to facilitate the entrance and withdrawal of the hitching-strap to and from the latch-chamber and prevent casual disengagement of the strap through the entrance-slot.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a post which will admit of the engagement of the dog with the strap at any desired point in the length of said strap and which will admit of the use of two straps or a rope and a strap at one and the same time, thus enabling fractious horses to be securely tied.

The invention consists of certain novel features and parts and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of theinvention is represented in the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a hitchingpost embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof. Fig. 8 is a section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4c is a section on line 4 a of Fig. 1. V

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 represents the body of the post, which is preferably winged or flanged to prevent the post fromturning in the ground and is also preferably provided at its lower end with a base-flange or foot-piece 2 to hold the post .firmly anchored in the ground against upward movement.

The post is provided with short vertical HIIOVGIIIGHU.

Serial No. 118,272. (No model.)

flanges 3, disposed upon opposite sides thereof, and with a head 4, having downwardlyextending flanges 3, located in vertical aline ment with said flanges 8 and spaced apart therefrom to form slots 5 5 and latch-chambers 6 6', said slots forming inlets to said chambers through which the hitching straps or ropes are inserted and withdrawn. The two chambers are separated by a vertical di vision or bridge piece 7, which supports the head 4 and also serves as a central bearing for a pivot-pin 8, passing therethrough and seated at its ends in the depending flanges 3. Within the two latch-chambers are arranged latch or locking dogs 9 9', which are pivotally mounted to swing upon the said pivot-pin and are formed with segmental working faces adapted to clamp the straps or ropes against the base-walls of the chambers to retain said straps or ropes firmly against movement.

In the operation of the invention upon the insertion of the hitching strap or rope the dog or pawl is swung outwardly from the chamber and the strap entered into the chamber through the side inlet-slot and the dog then swung back to clamp said strap against the base-wall of the chamber. When it is desired to withdraw the strap, the pawl or dog is again swung outwardly and the straplifted and passed outwardly through the side slot. In order to prevent accidental withdrawal of the hitching-strap through the side slot of either chamber, which might occur upon certain movements of the strap under the action of a restive animal, I provide the two vertical flanges 3 with undercut shoulders l0 l0, under which the outer edge of the hitchingstrap will lodge and be held from upward lVhen the dog 9 is engaged with the strap, that portion of its working face which is of less distance from the pivot 8 projects outwardly and curves upwardly at the front of the post and allows the free'portion of the strap to have upward movement. When under the action of a restive animal this movement is combined with a pull of the strap around the side of the post, the tendency of the outer edge of the strap, when the flange 3 is formed with a straight inner face, is to curve upwardly into the space or crevice between said face and the outer side of the dog, thus allowing the strap to be drawn rearwardly until it begins to pass out of the side slot and exerts an outward or rearward pull upon the dog, whereby the latter will be retracted, releasing the strap and leaving the same free to be withdrawn through the side slot. By forming the flange 3' with the overhanging shoulder this objection is avoided, as the edge of the strap will be caught under the shoulder and prevented from moving upwardly and passing out of the slot, and thus becoming disengaged. By this construction all liability of the rope or strap becoming casually disengaged under the actions of a restless or fractious horse will be effectually avoided.

By the construction of the post in such manner as to provide companion latch-chambers and pawls the hitching strap or rope may be held on either side of the post and two horses held at one and the same time, or, if desired, both a hitching strap and a rope may be secured to the postin the manner described in the two latch-chambers and secured to the same animal, thus enabling fractious horses to be firmly tied.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought that the construction, mode of operation, and advantages of my improved hitchingpost will be readily apparent without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from. the prin ciple or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is

1. A hitching-post having a latch-chamber provided with a side entrance-slot and a hold ing-dog, the side wall of the chamber below the slot being formed with a beveled or undercut shoulder to prevent the casual withdrawal of the strap through the slot, substantially as described.

2. A hitching-post provided upon its body portion with upwardly-extending flanges, and a vertical bridge-piece between the flanges, a head supported by said bridge-piece and hav-' ing downwardly-extending flanges, said upwardly and downwardly extending flanges being separated and forming with the bridgepiece latch-chambers and side inlets to said chambers, and dogs pivotally mounted in the chambers, substantially as set forth.

3. A hitching-post comprising a body portion provided with upwardly extending flanges and a vertical bridge-piece between said flanges, a head supported by the bridgepiece and having downwardly extending flanges spaced from said upwardly-extending flanges and forming therewith and with the bridge-piece latch-chambers and side inlets thereto, the said upwardly-extending flanges having guards or undercut stop-shoulders, a pivot-pin passing through the bridge-piece and downwardly-extending flanges, and dogs mounted in the chambers upon said pivot-pin, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I'have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALEXANDER S. HILL. 

